Villa v United: Preview

February 09, 2010

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United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is delighted to be back playing regularly again as the Reds go into the business end of the season.

The Dutchman will start at Villa Park as he keeps up his record of playing in every Premier League game this year.

But that comes after two lengthy absences and a period of compassionate leave just before Christmas when his wife Annemarie suffered a brain haemorrhage.

Thankfully, his wife has recovered sufficiently well for Van der Sar to resume his career at Old Trafford, bringing a sense of stability to a side that had been struggling for consistent results.

"It feels really good to be back playing," he said.

"It has been a stop-start season for me and you miss your weekly routine of training and games.

"But if feels great to be back in the swing of things and playing for United again."

The 39-year-old will be part of the old guard determined to keep up their fine form as they bid for a record fourth title.

Veteran duo Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are set for recalls after not even making the bench for Saturday's 5-0 demolition of Portsmouth.

Rio Ferdinand is suspended, while Nemanja Vidic has an outside chance of being involved for the first time this year after suffering a nerve problem in his leg last month.

For Villa, Emile Heskey is struggling to be fit after suffering a groin injury in their 0-0 draw at Spurs at the weekend while Stephen Warnock is out with an ankle problem.

United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Rafael, De Laet, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Park, Nani, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson, Anderson, Giggs, Rooney, Owen, Berbatov, Diouf.

Villa (from): Friedel, Guzan, Beye, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, L Young, A Young, Petrov, Milner, Downing, Delph, Agbonlahor, Carew, Heskey, Delfouneso, Sidwell, Davies, Clark.

United league form: WWWLW

Villa league form: DWDDLL

Key opponent: Gabriel Agbonlahor – Scored the winner at Old Trafford

Prediction: Villa 1 United 1 - The Reds may be forced to settle for a point against a well-organised side

Agree with the prediction? Have your say.

Click here for all the latest odds from Betfred.

| Submit Comments | Comments (35) |

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Redraw, Belfast (09/02/2010 at 14:05)

MUST WIN END OF STORY

Doc Savage (09/02/2010 at 14:10)

Vds,

Valencia Brown Evans Evra,

Nani Scholes Fletcher Carrick Giggs,

Rooney

Fonzy, London (09/02/2010 at 14:14)

My brother and I continually argue the credentials of Berbatov in the team. He says he's not good enough, not world-class whilst i argue that he brings something different than any other player in the premiership. the main reason he wins is the goal ratio... but i looked at it in more details goals to game ratio, this year he's actually in the top ten. now thats not anything to shout about, but I pointed out to him, and now to all of you that he has actually scored in all of his last 4 starts for manchester united!!! Once again nothing to shout about, but Chelsea are raving about ANELKA being great yet Berbatov has scored the same amount of prem goals as him and in much less games. True Life Story!!! "Perception," I told my brother "Is a funny thing. News articles and comments from commentators blind us to what really is happening". Remember, he has been playing with an injury as well this season...

jordy, Middleton (09/02/2010 at 14:26)

When United met Villa at OT earlier this season, they were profligate. Also they hit bad form at that time. Villa don't give much away, but don't score a lot of goals either. I'm going for a 3-1 United win.

Ibrahim Bobat (09/02/2010 at 14:28)

How dare we settle for a point. We should be aiming for 3 points.

krutt (09/02/2010 at 14:31)

Tough game tonight, but one Utd could certainly win if they play well.
My team would be - VDS, Nev, Brown, Vidic (If fit if not Evans) Evra, Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes, Nani & Rooney. Playing 4 5 1.

ENGINEER, Heywood (09/02/2010 at 14:33)

Team for the game against Villa.

Van Da Saar
Depending who is fit.
Fabio/Brown Brown/Vidic Evans Evra

Nani Fletcher Carrick Scholes Park

Rooney

Subs: Kushak, Valencia, Diouf, Berbatov, Fabio/Gibson

No Anderson as he seems to have fallen out with Fergy.

jordy, Middleton (09/02/2010 at 14:39)

Krutt at 14:31, it's being played tomorrow night mate; )

Drago 34 (09/02/2010 at 14:40)

If we win this game then we have a brilliant chance of winning the Title.We have a free weekend this week so there is no need to rest anyone so if we are to play 4-3-3 then i hope the team will be ....

.....................Van Der Sar....................

Rafael..........Vidic..........Evans..........Evra

........Carrick.......Fletcher.......Scholes.......

Valencia..............Rooney..................Nani

Subs: Kuszackz, Brown, Anderson, Giggs, Berbatov, Diouf, Owen

If we go 4-4-2 then i would play...

.....................Van Der Sar....................

Rafael..........Vidic..........Evans..........Evra

Valencia......Fletcher........Carrick........Nani

................Rooney........Berbatov............

Subs: Kuszackz, Brown, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Diouf, Owen

What ever happens just play ALL the in form players and be proffesional, disiplined and clinical.

Gilly, Belgium (09/02/2010 at 14:48)

I agree its a must win game !!
We have to win as many as we can to stay in the chase !
Play a good team please SAF !

jordy, Middleton (09/02/2010 at 14:54)

Drago 34 at 14:40, the first formation looks spot on mate.

Paddy Evra's Captains Armband, Manchester M1!! (09/02/2010 at 15:01)

Hang on, Hang on.....

United's latest League Form as per M.E.N - WWWLW

No it ain't!

We are top of the Form League having the current overall record from the last 6 games - W D W W W W - total 16 out of 18 points.

Current home form - L W W W W W - 15 out of 18 points.

Current away form - W W L W D W - 13 out of 18 points.

I hope this isn't the sign of the times now that the M.E.N is now owned by Mirror Trinity (LIVERPOOL ECHO)??!!

A sad day for all Mancs that....:0(

Ben'sDad, WA4 (09/02/2010 at 15:06)

It's official - Villa are now the dullest team in the Premiership. They'll certainly want a clean sheet and could well be happy with a draw (what a craven performance against Spurs the other day). We should have at least drawn against them at our place, but they're so dull and well-organised, and Friedel always plays a blinder against us, I expect a drawn, even a 0-0, tomorrow. Please prove me wrong.

Balders!, W3106, Tier2 (09/02/2010 at 15:37)

It' not a must win, .....but a musn't lose !! SaF knows that too so Roon will be back on his own esp' as villa will be prone to the counter attack.

In addition, if vidic plays, then Wes has to be RB. The rest will sort itself.

Alias Smith, over the moon (09/02/2010 at 15:49)

Drago, Villa tend to sit back even at home so I would have thought 442 with the extra creativity of Berbatov would be a better option, give us a better chance of breaking them down, than one up. I'm probably wrong!

Doc, hopeful of seeing Valencia at right back much?

Redraw, Belfast (09/02/2010 at 15:58)

To Fonzy, London

I agree with Berbatov but certain games we cant play him and Villa might be one of those games.

Brora boy, Highlands (09/02/2010 at 17:54)

Not much wrong with Valencia and Nani on the park at the same time. Scholes and Giggs may be due a game in fergie's eyes but if Vidic is in then go with Brown at right back Fletch and Carrick in the middle. Roo and Berbie up front. Both Rooney and Berbie are excellent at holding the ball on the break and Nani and Valencia wide give us lots of pace on the wings. Scholes may get the nod over Carrick as he has been in great form and if anyone can take a defence apart it's him. Losing an early goal at home is always unsettling.

I saw Duncan Edwards play, Walton Le Dale (09/02/2010 at 20:16)

Edwin Van der sar, you say that you are delighted to be back playing regularly, but not half as delighted as I am! It is no coincidence that since your return we have been playing the best football of the Season. All our players have hit top form at the same time (even Park!?) and I put it all down to your on field presence. You give out so much confidence to your team mates that they cannot help but respond accordingly.

I cannot even guess what team SAF puts out, but I trust his judgement implicitly!

I forecast a 2-0 win.

Bigmouth strikes again, Manchester (09/02/2010 at 21:02)

Van Der Sar
Brown Vidic Evans Evra
Nani Fletcher Scholes Giggs
Rooney Berbatov

Doc Savage (09/02/2010 at 21:13)

Alias,

Effectively I am trying to get Nani and Valencia into the same team. Although to achieve this, I would also be keen to try Nani as the second-striker behind Rooney.

Alias Smith, over the moon (09/02/2010 at 21:59)

They both played against Portsmouth Doc. But I guess you are trying to get them both in the team with Nani taking the position on the right wing (I don't believe he will ever be deployed by SAF as a second striker). Can't see it happening as I don't believe SAF will ever play Valencia at right back - why would he, when we have specialist full backs?

There is more of a chance that he might use Valencia in CM but he's shown no inclination to do so as yet.

Mike Summerbee's socks (09/02/2010 at 22:56)

2-1 Villa

Doc Savage (09/02/2010 at 23:53)

Alias Smith, over the moon
9/02/2010 at 21:59

When these innovations happen, remember you heard it here first.

John Terry's Magic Boots Oops (09/02/2010 at 23:59)

If we want a 4th title on the trot we need to win games like this.

I am with most and think SAF will go 4-5-1

VDS

Rafael-Brown-Vidic-Evra
Nani-Carrick-Scholes-Fletcher-Giggs
Rooney all alone.

Unfortunately this will leave us too slow on the counter attack on the left....but money is on this lineup as Fergie tries to get his experience in.

Hopefully we can get one by early or it could be a long day.

chew, Grenada (10/02/2010 at 00:42)

There is no doubt that Berb.is an excellent skillful/technical player.My problem with him having watched and analysed his performances over the season,is that his style is not ideally suited to the way United plays.United is an extremely effective team when playing in a fast paced up tempo attacking style.The problem is that Berb.always slows down that up-tempo attacking flair with his holding-up style of play.Invariably this alows the opposing defence to get back in position and reorganise.This will continue to present SAF with a major problem of when to play him.
My view is that unless he can effectively change his playing style to blend with the United style he should be off-loaded!
Score line against Villa;United2 Villa 0.

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